Deeper Reflection
The high point of Daniel’s vision of the four great beasts was a “little horn” that rose out of the “ten horns” of the “dreadful and terrifying and extremely strong” “fourth beast” (vv.7-8). The “ten horns” of the fourth beast are “symbols of violent, aggressive power in all directions”⁴⁰ . The little horn takes on human features, including the ability to speak, with “a mouth uttering great boastful words” (vv.8, 11).Literary structure shapes theological message. The vision of the Ancient of Days (vv.9-10) and the vision of the Son of Man (vv.13-14) sandwich the vision of the boastful little horn (vv.11-12). Daniel saw the glory of God while at the same time hearing the little horn boasting. Here are two realities – “the world of rampaging beasts” (vv.11-12) and “the world of the heavenly court” (vv.9-10, 13-14) – that are “not totally separate and independent”⁴¹ . The two realities are “ultimately one whole integrated reality” with two perspectives.⁴² We see one reality by sight and one by faith. But we must by faith see the total reality.The sandwich structure shows God’s total sovereign control over arrogant powerful nations. The great boasting of these nations – or any arrogant powerful person – will not last forever. It has an “until”: “until the beast was slain, and its body destroyed and given to the burning fire” (v.11). This “until” is a divine “until”. The verbs in passive voice, “slain”, “destroyed” and “given” point to the Divine Passive, underscoring the sovereignty of God. We rest in God’s sovereignty and wait for the divine “until” with perseverance and patience.

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⁴⁰ Christopher J. H. Wright, 153 ⁴¹ Christopher J. H. Wright, 154 ⁴² Christopher J. H. Wright, 154